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T. G. GREENE. WIRE STRETOHER.-

Patnted Aug. 1, 1893.

v WWW I v B) UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS C. GREENE, OF LIBERTY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES F. CLEAVELAND, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

WlRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 502,515, dated August 1, 1893.

Application filed December 30, 1892. Serial No. 45 6,764. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS C. GREENE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Liberty, in the county of Union and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Wire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specificationl My invention relates to an improved wirestretcher for wire fences, of that class in which the wire is held taut with a yielding force so as to accommodate the expansion and contraction of the wire.

The object of my improvement is, to providea Windlass for stretching the wire; means for securing the Windlass to the fence-post by a yielding support, and means whereby the tension of the wire or fence-strand shall operate to hold the spindle of the Windlass in position, all as hereinafter fully set forth.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure l is a plan, showing the stretcher attached to a metallic fence-post. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section of the same. Fig. 3 represents a section of the Windlass taken at a Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents a vertical section of a wooden fence-post, showing the stretcher mounted therein.

In the drawings, A, represents a casting forming two bearings in which the Windlass spindle, B, is mounted so as to turn therein. Spindle B is provided, at each end, where it rests in the bearings of casting A, with ratchet-teeth, C, which engage one or more retaining-teeth, D, formed within the bearings, the bearings being enough larger than the diameter of the spindle to allow the ratchet-teeth of the spindle to clear the retaining-teeth when the spindle is turned in one direction. Spindle B is provided with a suitable head, E, adapted to receive a wrench, or other suitable tool for turning the spindle. The base of the windlass-bearingis provided with a cylindrical stud, F, having a central perforation, G, through which the fencestrand, 0, passes to the spindle B, to which the end of the strand is secured in any suitable manner. One end of a strong spiralspring, H, embraces and is secured to the stud, F.

In mounting the wire-stretcher on the fencepost, that end of spring H which is farthest from the Windlass is immovably secured to the post in such a manner that the strand to be stretched passes longitudinally through the coils of the spring and is secured to the Windlass. If the post to which the stretcher is to be secured is a wooden post, a recess is formed in the farthest side of the post, in line with the strand to be stretched, and the spring H is inserted in said recess, the free end of the spring resting against the bottom of the recess, and the strand passingthrough the post. If the device is to be secured to a metallic post, a supporting frame is provided, having an eye, J, adapted to embrace the post P, and a pair oflaterally extending arms, K, K, provided at their outer ends with hooks L, L, adapted to receive and support the end of spring H. Said frame is also provided on the inner opposed sides of the arms with retaining shoulders, M, M, against which the Windlass rests when the device is separated from the post. The Windlass-frame A, is provided on each side with a notch N, adapted to receive the arms K, so as to slide therein.

In operation, the stretcher having been mounted upon the post, the fence-strand to be stretched is passed through the spring H and the base of the Windlass-bearing, A, and is secured to the spindle of the Windlass. Said spindle being turned the strand is wound upon it and drawn to the proper tension, the Windlass being supported so as to resist the strain of the fence-strand, by the spring H. As the Windlass is turned, spring H yields so as to allow the ratchet-teeth of the Windlass spindle to passover the retainingteeth of the bearing, said teeth being retained in engagement bythe combined action of the spring H, and strand 0. The strand being drawn to the proper tension, the spring sustaining the Windlass yields to the expansion and contraction of the fence-strand at different temperatures.

I claim as my invention- In a wire-stretcher, the combination of the frame adapted to be secured to a fence-post, the Windlass arranged to slide on said frame, and the spring secured at one end to said frame and connected at the opposite end to said Windlass so as to form a yielding support therefor, substantially as shown and described.

THOMAS O. GREENE.

Witnesses:

JOHN B. MACY, JOSEPH LA FUGE. 

